Olympus upgrades their high-end PEN line with a load of new enhancements while maintaining the retro look of the original. The sensor size also stays the same, but is said to be enhanced for better performance in low light, though we couldn't see much of a difference. It's the new targeted touchscreen interface that really impresses, allowing easy autofocus confirmation via onscreen zoom, and the autofocus itself is so fast it rivals many SLRs.

Relying on snazzy visual imagery, the Olympus Pen Mini E-PM1 aims at a simplified control system and a very small body, though it still has most of the controls found on its slightly larger cousin the E-PL3. Autofocus is said to be extremely fast as we found on the E-P3, and the Mini can also capture up to five frames per second.

Remarkably slim and light for a 24x long zoom digital camera, the Olympus SZ-30MR is a handsome digital camera with a good grip. We liked the easy Panorama mode and a few of the scene modes, but were mystified by a few other modes; most disappointing, though, was the overaggressive noise suppression that made in-focus faces blurry and foliage look more like clouds than leaves.

The Olympus Tough TG-1 waterproof digital compact camera looks and feels like it should -- rugged and ready to take on the elements. It's also incredibly fast -- in both the bright f/2.0 lens and in autofocus, startup and shot-to-shot times, but image quality suffers a little more than we'd like, with frequent underexposure and muted colors.

There's a good reason why the Olympus TG-2 is also called Tough; its rugged, element-defying skills are among the best for compact waterproof cameras. The TG-2 also proved a tough act to beat when it comes to controls and customizability, being the only waterproof compact we tested that had a physical Mode dial, providing serious shooters quick access for getting the perfect exposure. And that's suiting since the TG-2 tended to underexpose in Auto mode. But that doesn't mean it takes bad pictures; in fact it printed as well or better than its rivals including 16-megapixel models, and its fast f/2 max aperture at wide angle really helps in low-light situations. Overall, the Olympus TG-2 stands out as one of the best in its class.

Offering a lens that's both faster and sharper overall than its rivals, the Olympus XZ-1 comes out swinging and lands quite a few punches. High ISO performance isn't quite what we hoped for, but we'd be happy to stick with lower ISOs for access to the XZ-1's fine glass.